IT'S A PSYCHIC FAIR EVERY DAY .. by Meltem Yakula Kurtman

"What says my fortune today?"

"Oh, I had the most interesting dream last night. Where is that dream dictionary?"

"My ears are ringing, someone must be talking about me"

These are probably the most popular topics of casual conversation between family members and close friends in a Turkish household. While in North America people are only now beginning to accept the unexplainable, out-of-the-ordinary occurences, generally classified as 'psychic phenomena'; Psychic phenomena is an everyday occurence that Turks have been living with for centuries.

The most popular form of psychic reading is the Turkish coffee cup. This very entertaining ritual is done several times a day, perhaps every time they have a cup of coffee.

Turkish coffee is brewed and served in a very unique way. It is prepared in a small saucepan-like pot where the coffee, water and maybe sugar is boiled over a hot plate. The coffee is ready to be served when a froth forms on the top and rises. In this way, the coffee grinds are part of the liquid which later settles at the bottom of the serving cup. It is the coffee residue which forms shapes in the cup and is read either for fun or for very serious consideration, depending on who is reading and who is listening.

The coffee is read somewhat like the European tea leaves, but the cup must be turned upside-down and allowed to drain and dry. Every Turkish home has at least one resident psychic, sometimes the whole family is learned in the ways of coffee cup readings. In that case one must politely inquire who is the best reader before having one's cup read.

As far as their beloved Turkish coffee and its psychic readings go, the Turkish people are very accepting. The skeptics are non-existent in this department. There is a very popular Turkish proverb that says "Do not believe in fal (fortune telling), but do not do without it" meaning to say: take it with a grain of salt .. yes it is very entertaining and people don't want to do without it, but also practice your free will and create your own fortune or destiny.

Turks love to interpret their dreams almost as much as they love reading their fortune from the coffee cup. They all have at least one well used dream dictionary. In the old days, people often visited the local hoja (wiseman), if they thought that their dream had an important message that needed professional interpretation.

Last night's dreams are daily discussed at breakfast, for the dreamer may need to understand the message conveyed and possibly use it in the day that awaits him or her.

The prophetic type of dreams are the ones people enjoy the most. For example if someone dreams that he is fishing in a clean, clear water lake and he happens to be catching a lot of fish .. this is interpreted as a sign for good things to come .. he will certainly be in good spirits!

Whether the prophecy comes from a cup or from the subconscious mind, the Turks love and enjoy speculating on them. In fact one might say its their favourite pass-time.

This article was originally published in Cross Cultures Magazine in Volume 1 - Issue 3 - 1992. Unauthorized copying, distribution or other usage without express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.